Method and system for tracking medical and other waste

Abstract

A system and method for tracking medical or toxic waste including a first container adapted to hold untreated medical waste, the container having a wireless tracking device attached thereto. The system also includes a tracking station capable of monitoring the movement of the medical waste by tracking the wireless tracking device.

1 . A method of tracking medical or toxic waste comprising: 
 monitoring the movement of a first container having a wireless tracking device attached thereto from a waste generating facility to a waste treatment facility using the wireless tracking device.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 monitoring the return of the first container from the waste treatment facility to the waste generating facility with the wireless tracking device.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring comprises scanning the wireless tracking device with a handheld reader.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising uploading tracking data to a monitoring station.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medical waste is segregated according to type prior to putting it in the medical waste container.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising weighing the first container with waste prior to treating the waste.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising determining the amount of waste in the container.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising calculating how much to charge a customer based on the type of waste and the weight of the waste.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising electronically billing the customer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising supplying the customer with an invoice, the invoice including confirmation of the destruction of the waste and the amount of waste destroyed.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising supplying a second container having an wireless tracking device, the second container adapted to hold treated medical waste.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising tracking the second container to a landfill or recycling center.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising supplying the customer with an invoice, the invoice including confirmation of the delivery of the waste to the landfill or recycling center.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the wireless tracking device operates at radio frequencies.  
     
     
         15 . A system for tracking medical or toxic waste comprising: 
 a first container adapted to hold untreated medical waste, the container having a wireless tracking device attached thereto; and    a tracking station capable of monitoring the movement of the medical waste by tracking the wireless tracking device.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one handheld reader.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a satellite or cellular station.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a computer to track said container.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising an apparatus for weighing the first container and untreated medical waste.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an apparatus for calculating how much to charge a customer based on the type of waste and the weight of the waste and for supplying the customer with an invoice, the invoice including confirmation of the destruction of the waste and the amount of waste destroyed.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a second container having an wireless tracking device, the second container adapted to hold treated medical waste.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless tracking operates at radio frequencies.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the segregated waste comprises sharps containers.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising processing the sharps containers and sending the processed sharps containers to a recycling facility.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising fabricating new sharps containers from the recycled sharps containers.